ProRodeo Sports News - October 30, 2020

DIRECTOR’S CUT SCOTT KANIEWSKI

Fans are the reason for the 2020 NFR season W hen this edition of ProRodeo Sports News publishes on Oct. 30, we’ll be just 34 days away from probably the most improbable Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in ProRodeo history. attend anNFR if possible, the response was an overwhelming, “Yes.” The PRCA jumped into action, trying to find a locale that was willing to host and that would welcome fans with open arms. Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers), the cities of

As other sports allow fans to trickle through their turnstiles, the PRCA had that plan all along. The biggest reason the 2020 Wrangler NFR will be not in Las Vegas but at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is because the stadium can host an audience. When the first horse bucks on Dec. 3, a thunderous cheer will go up from thousands of voices in one of the nation’s newest stadiums. While the National League Championship Series and the World Series have hosted fans over the past several weeks, Major League Baseball didn’t announce the welcoming of fans until well after the PRCA had stated it was moving the Finals to Arlington and would have people (and DoppleWranglers) in the seats. If you read this space consistently, you’ll know that it’s been pointed out that the first rodeo back was Cave Creek, Ariz. Before any major sports returned, ProRodeo cowboys were back competing for cash. And soon after Cave Creek, cowboys were back competing in front of fans excited to see their favorite athletes back on the arena dirt. Since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, the PRCA has worked diligently and within state and local guidelines to keep rodeo running. While plenty of rodeos had to cancel for the 2020 season because of the pandemic, many others worked within their state regulations to make sure their event would go off. When the PRCA sent out a survey to find out if fans would

Arlington and Fort Worth, and the state of Texas responded. Their answer – bring the Finals and everything that comes along with it to the Lone Star State. The cowboys have expressed their gratitude to all the rodeos that took place. They’ve been understanding of the rodeos that couldn’t happen. When they couldn’t rodeo, many ProRodeo athletes went out and found work to tide them over. But when rodeos started coming back, the cowboys responded. They flooded events. They entered anything and everything. They drove hours to get to one rodeo, then hours back the other way to get to another. The tales of cowboys competing at rodeos they had never previously been to are more commonplace than not. And that benefited everyone – cowboys, rodeos, gas stations and restaurants in between. But mostly it benefited fans – the ones who turned out in droves where they could, and ones who attended in smaller quantities when permitted. If there was a rodeo and fans could attend, they did. They shelled out their hard- earned money to show how much they wanted rodeo. That’s why the Finals will be in Arlington. For the cowboys, for the rodeo committees that fought the odds to make them happen, for the restaurants and hotels and gas stations the cowboys frequented while going down the road. But mostly the 2020Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will happen for the fans.

Scott Kaniewski is the Media Director at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He previously served more than two years as the editor of ProRodeo Sports News. He has nearly two decades of experience in sports journalism, with the last few being consumed by ProRodeo.

Navigating Insurance Can Be a Bumpy Ride.

But it doesn’t have to be. For a comprehensive review of your coverage and exposure,

call 913.432.4400 or visit hwins.com/Ride

Specialty Program Insurors/Haas & Wilkerson Insurance is proud to support the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

ProRodeo Sports News 10/30/2020

ProRodeo.com

6